Analysis of perfluorinated phosponic acids and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in water, sludge and sediment by LC–MS/MS

Residues of perfluorinated phosphonic acids (PFPAs) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were investigated in various Dutch surface waters, sludge and sediments. For this purpose, a liquid chromatographic (LC) method was optimized by testing several columns with different mobile phases. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was chosen for the LC tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. An ion-pair reagent was added to the injection solvent to improve peak shape. Different solvents were studied for the extraction from solid samples. For clean-up and pre-concentration, weak anion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges were used. Water samples were extracted using the same cartridges. The method was used for screening PFPAs in the Dutch aquatic environment. PFPAs were not observed in sediment or sludge samples. PFOPA was found at 1 ng L−1 in one surface water sample. PFOS was found at levels between 0.07 ng g−1 and 48 ng g−1 (dry weight) in sediments and sewage sludge samples. PFOS concentrations in surface water ranged from 3.3 ng L−1 to 25.4 ng L−1.